Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala

Action Alerts
............................................................................................

NISGUA Urgent Action

Date: February 9, 2007

Fear for Security / Threats, Kidnapping, Break-Ins

Witnesses in National and International Genocide Cases
Center for Human Rights Legal Action – CALDH Staff
Human Rights Defenders Protection Unit - UPD-MNDH Staff
National Movement for Human Rights – MNDH Staff
Communication Association for Art and Peace –COMUNICARTE Staff
The Community Studies and Psychosocial Action Team – ECAP Staff

On January 27, 2007, ECAP released a communiqué concerning the intimidations that they had received in connection with their work in Rabinal, Baja Verapaz. Since October of last year, the ECAP team has been the victim of various written and telephone threats for their psychosocial work related to exhumations and with the survivors of the massacre of Plan de Sánchez.

On February 2, a tire of the vehicle of Otto Navarro, a lawyer who works with CALDH, was slashed. Later in the day, José Roberto Morales, coordinator of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Department of CALDH, left his office in a CALDH vehicle. After arriving at his home he was kidnapped by two armed men. They released him in a nearby neighborhood, telling him that they would look for him in his house and kill him if he activated the vehicle’s alarm. Later the vehicle was found intact, with all of his belongings, including his new laptop computer.

Sometime during February 3-5, the offices of the UPD-MNDH, MNDH and COMUNICARTE were broken into by unknown people. Their files were searched, 11 computers were stolen, the video equipment of COMUNICARTE was taken and human feces were left on the terrace. While staff members of these organizations were waiting for the Guatemalan authorities on the morning of February 5, a person ina red Toyota Corolla, with the plates 654CLO, drove past and filmed the group.

On February 5, a note was left on the windshield of the car of Angélica González, another CALDH lawyer . The note said: “stop bothering with protection, protect yourself you don’t understand warning tell Pancho [Juan Francisco Soto, Coordinator of the legal area of CALDH ] to take care of himself and his children and woman that is always alone, we see them and you Abogangsters [Lawyer-Gangster] pieces of [expletive] that only want money. Look for another job but one of these days we will go out for lunch together, as always it’s on us. Understand you sons of [expletive]”. Angélica González is representing ECAP staff and José Roberto Morales before the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights.

All of these incidents have been reported to the Guatemalan Attorney General’s Office.

Context

In a press conference on February 6, affected organizations argued that these attacks could be linked. CALDH’s legal team advises the Association for Justice and Reconciliation (AJR) in the cases charging former dictator Gen. Efraín Ríos Montt and other former officials with genocide. ECAP offers psychosocial accompaniment to survivors of genocide, including members of the AJR and other witnesses in cases of human rights violations committed by the military during the armed conflict. The UPD-MNDH records all cases of attacks against human rights defenders. Soon the group will release a report analyzing high-impact cases involving human rights defenders in2006, including the continuing attacks against ECAP. COMUNICARTE is finishing documentaries about topics such as genocide, the Dos Erres massacre, and the women of the Ixcán.

For the ECAP communiqué, see:

http://www.paqg.org/article.php3?id_article=426&sq=docu

And a previous NISGUA alert:

http://www.nisgua.org/get_involved/action_alerts/alert_01.asp

On July 7, 2006, the Spanish National Court issued international arrest warrants for Ríos Montt, Mejía Victores, Chupina Barahona, García Arredondo, Benedicto Lucas García, Angel Guevara, and Álvarez Ruiz for genocide, terrorism, torture, and illegal detentions. On November 7, 2006, Guevara and Chupina were arrested after a Guatemalan court processed the request for extradition issued by the Spanish. Currently, the others remain free. In press releases, Vice-President Eduardo Stein said: “Guatemalans that commit crimes in national territory should be tried in Guatemala.” By promoting the rights to justice and truth, human rights defenders have been subject to systematic attacks, including at least 13 murders since 2000.

In October 2006, the AJR formally requested that the Attorney General request Judge Roberto Peñate to subpoena Ríos Montt for an initial statement, after which formal charges could be filed. Four months later there has been no response from the authorities. On February 7, 2007, CALDH and the AJR presented a complaint to the judge, voicing their discontent with the Attorney General and requesting that the judge proceed with collecting Ríos Montt’s initial statement in order to formally accuse him of genocide against the Maya Ixil people under his government.

If this step is taken in the case it would prevent Ríos Montt from standing as a candidate in the upcoming elections. Candidates for the congressional elections in September of this year can begin registering after May 3. Ríos Montt has already publicly stated his desire to run for the Guatemalan Congress as part of the FRG party.

Together with other members of the Coordination of International Accompaniment in Guatemala (CAIG), NISGUA is concerned about the rise in threats against these organizations and asks you to take actions to guarantee their security.

Suggested Actions

- Request that the Vice-President of Guatemala offer protection to human rights defenders, particularly the members of UPD-MNDH, COMUNICARTE, ECAP, CALDH, and MNDH who are working against genocide and impunity;

- Request that the Vice-President support the extradition of those accused by the Spanish National Court;

- Demand that the Attorney General launch an immediate and thorough investigation of the attacks against the CALDH legal team and the offices of UPD-MNDH, MNDH and COMUNICARTE;

- Demand that the Attorney General move the genocide cases forward.

Send letters to:

Vice-President of the Republic
Vicepresidente de la República
Sr. Eduardo Stein
Casa Presidencial, 6a. Avenida 4-19, Zona 1,
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Fax: (011) +502 2253-0801 / (011) +502 2253-0801 (if someone answers, say: "tono de fax, por favor")
Email: stein@vicepresidente.gob.gt
Salutation: Dear Vice-President / Estimado Sr. Vicepresidente

Attorney General and Head of the Public Prosecutor's office
Lic. Juan Luis Florido
Fiscal General de la República y Jefe del Ministerio Público
Edificio Ministerio Público
15 Avenida 15-16, Zona 1,
Barrio Gerona, 8vo. Nivel,
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Fax: (011) +502 2411-9124/ (011) +502 2411-9326
Email: fiscalgeneral@mp.lex.gob.gt
Salutation: Dear Attorney General/Estimado Sr. Fiscal General

Embassy of Guatemala to the United States
Ambassador Jose Guillermo Castillo
Embassy of Guatemala
2220 R St. NW
Washington DC 20008
Fax: 1-202-745 1908
Email: info@guatemala-embassy.org

With copies to:

Equipo de Estudios Comunitarios y Acción Psicosocial -ECAP-
2a. Avenida 1-11, zona 3 Colonia Bran
Fax: (011) +502 2232-1430 / (011) +502 2253-6071
E-mail: ecap@itelgua.com

Centro para la Acción Legal en Derechos Humanos
6ª. Avenida 1-71, zona 1
Ciudad de Guatemala
Fax: (011) +502 2230-3470
E-mail: caldh@caldh.org

Unidad de Protección de Defensoras y Defensores de Derechos Humanos
Movimiento Nacional de Derechos Humanos
1 Avenida 0-11, Zona 2, Colonia Lo de Bran,
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Fax: +(011) 502 2232-2651(if someone answers, say: "tono de fax, por favor")
E-mail: udefegua@yahoo.com

The Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA)
1830 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20009
Fax: 1-202-223-8221
organizer@nisgua.org

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print \| close window Action Alerts ............................................................................................ NISGUA Urgent Action Date: February 9, 2007 Fear for Security / Threats, Kidnapping, Break-Ins Witnesses in National and International Genocide Cases Center for Human Rights Legal Action – CALDH Staff Human Rights Defenders Protection Unit - UPD-MNDH Staff National Movement for Human Rights – MNDH Staff Communication Association for Art and Peace –COMUNICARTE Staff The Community Studies and Psychosocial Action Team – ECAP Staff On January 27, 2007, ECAP released a communiqué concerning the intimidations that they had received in connection with their work in Rabinal, Baja Verapaz. Since October of last year, the ECAP team has been the victim of various written and telephone threats for their psychosocial work related to exhumations and with the survivors of the massacre of Plan de Sánchez. On February 2, a tire of the vehicle of Otto Navarro, a lawyer who works with CALDH, was slashed. Later in the day, José Roberto Morales, coordinator of the Indigenous Peoples’ Rights Department of CALDH, left his office in a CALDH vehicle. After arriving at his home he was kidnapped by two armed men. They released him in a nearby neighborhood, telling him that they would look for him in his house and kill him if he activated the vehicle’s alarm. Later the vehicle was found intact, with all of his belongings, including his new laptop computer. Sometime during February 3-5, the offices of the UPD-MNDH, MNDH and COMUNICARTE were broken into by unknown people. Their files were searched, 11 computers were stolen, the video equipment of COMUNICARTE was taken and human feces were left on the terrace. While staff members of these organizations were waiting for the Guatemalan authorities on the morning of February 5, a person ina red Toyota Corolla, with the plates 654CLO, drove past and filmed the group. On February 5, a note was left on the windshield of the car of Angélica González, another CALDH lawyer . The note said: “stop bothering with protection, protect yourself you don’t understand warning tell Pancho [Juan Francisco Soto, Coordinator of the legal area of CALDH ] to take care of himself and his children and woman that is always alone, we see them and you Abogangsters [Lawyer-Gangster] pieces of [expletive] that only want money. Look for another job but one of these days we will go out for lunch together, as always it’s on us. Understand you sons of [expletive]”. Angélica González is representing ECAP staff and José Roberto Morales before the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights. All of these incidents have been reported to the Guatemalan Attorney General’s Office. Context In a press conference on February 6, affected organizations argued that these attacks could be linked. CALDH’s legal team advises the Association for Justice and Reconciliation (AJR) in the cases charging former dictator Gen. Efraín Ríos Montt and other former officials with genocide. ECAP offers psychosocial accompaniment to survivors of genocide, including members of the AJR and other witnesses in cases of human rights violations committed by the military during the armed conflict. The UPD-MNDH records all cases of attacks against human rights defenders. Soon the group will release a report analyzing high-impact cases involving human rights defenders in2006, including the continuing attacks against ECAP. COMUNICARTE is finishing documentaries about topics such as genocide, the Dos Erres massacre, and the women of the Ixcán. For the ECAP communiqué, see: http://www.paqg.org/article.php3?id_article=426&sq=docu And a previous NISGUA alert: http://www.nisgua.org/get_involved/action_alerts/alert_01.asp On July 7, 2006, the Spanish National Court issued international arrest warrants for Ríos Montt, Mejía Victores, Chupina Barahona, García Arredondo, Benedicto Lucas García, Angel Guevara, and Álvarez Ruiz for genocide, terrorism, torture, and illegal detentions. On November 7, 2006, Guevara and Chupina were arrested after a Guatemalan court processed the request for extradition issued by the Spanish. Currently, the others remain free. In press releases, Vice-President Eduardo Stein said: “Guatemalans that commit crimes in national territory should be tried in Guatemala.” By promoting the rights to justice and truth, human rights defenders have been subject to systematic attacks, including at least 13 murders since 2000. In October 2006, the AJR formally requested that the Attorney General request Judge Roberto Peñate to subpoena Ríos Montt for an initial statement, after which formal charges could be filed. Four months later there has been no response from the authorities. On February 7, 2007, CALDH and the AJR presented a complaint to the judge, voicing their discontent with the Attorney General and requesting that the judge proceed with collecting Ríos Montt’s initial statement in order to formally accuse him of genocide against the Maya Ixil people under his government. If this step is taken in the case it would prevent Ríos Montt from standing as a candidate in the upcoming elections. Candidates for the congressional elections in September of this year can begin registering after May 3. Ríos Montt has already publicly stated his desire to run for the Guatemalan Congress as part of the FRG party. Together with other members of the Coordination of International Accompaniment in Guatemala (CAIG), NISGUA is concerned about the rise in threats against these organizations and asks you to take actions to guarantee their security. Suggested Actions - Request that the Vice-President of Guatemala offer protection to human rights defenders, particularly the members of UPD-MNDH, COMUNICARTE, ECAP, CALDH, and MNDH who are working against genocide and impunity; - Request that the Vice-President support the extradition of those accused by the Spanish National Court; - Demand that the Attorney General launch an immediate and thorough investigation of the attacks against the CALDH legal team and the offices of UPD-MNDH, MNDH and COMUNICARTE; - Demand that the Attorney General move the genocide cases forward. Send letters to: Vice-President of the Republic Vicepresidente de la República Sr. Eduardo Stein Casa Presidencial, 6a. Avenida 4-19, Zona 1, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala Fax: (011) +502 2253-0801 / (011) +502 2253-0801 (if someone answers, say: "tono de fax, por favor") Email: stein@vicepresidente.gob.gt Salutation: Dear Vice-President / Estimado Sr. Vicepresidente Attorney General and Head of the Public Prosecutor's office Lic. Juan Luis Florido Fiscal General de la República y Jefe del Ministerio Público Edificio Ministerio Público 15 Avenida 15-16, Zona 1, Barrio Gerona, 8vo. Nivel, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala Fax: (011) +502 2411-9124/ (011) +502 2411-9326 Email: fiscalgeneral@mp.lex.gob.gt Salutation: Dear Attorney General/Estimado Sr. Fiscal General Embassy of Guatemala to the United States Ambassador Jose Guillermo Castillo Embassy of Guatemala 2220 R St. NW Washington DC 20008 Fax: 1-202-745 1908 Email: info@guatemala-embassy.org With copies to: Equipo de Estudios Comunitarios y Acción Psicosocial -ECAP- 2a. Avenida 1-11, zona 3 Colonia Bran Fax: (011) +502 2232-1430 / (011) +502 2253-6071 E-mail: ecap@itelgua.com Centro para la Acción Legal en Derechos Humanos 6ª. Avenida 1-71, zona 1 Ciudad de Guatemala Fax: (011) +502 2230-3470 E-mail: caldh@caldh.org Unidad de Protección de Defensoras y Defensores de Derechos Humanos Movimiento Nacional de Derechos Humanos 1 Avenida 0-11, Zona 2, Colonia Lo de Bran, Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala Fax: +(011) 502 2232-2651(if someone answers, say: "tono de fax, por favor") E-mail: udefegua@yahoo.com The Network in Solidarity with the People of Guatemala (NISGUA) 1830 Connecticut Ave. NW Washington, DC 20009 Fax: 1-202-223-8221 organizer@nisgua.org print \| close window